Feed mechanism for machine guns



Dec. 19, 1944. MOORE 2,365,484

FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Nov. 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l q Invent 0r Q FreasrzbkIMaaraflaaeasad 172's adminr'sbrsbar Dec. 19, 1944. F. 1-. MOORE FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Nov. 20, v193E) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Trust Cmgpszzy J. W 73M 4% arzz y Patented Dec. 19, 1944 FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Frederick T. Moore, deceased, late of West Hartford, Conn., by Phoenix State Bank and Trust Company, administrator, Hartford, Conn., assignor to Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,240

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a feed mechanism particularly adapted for use with or as a part of an automatic firear-m of the character disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,525,065, 1,525,066 and 1,692,328, issued in the name of John M. Browning.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a means in association with the feed channel of the firearm for preventing inadvertent or unintended movement, of the cartridge carrying feeder too far in the feeding direction. With firearms of this type as constructed prior to this invention, it was possible for the machine gun operator, unless exercising extreme care, to move the feeder to too great an extentthus sometimes causin unintended firing of the gun, or causing a jam as the result of feeding two cartridges in too rapid succession. It was also possible for over feeding to occur when the gun was operating object in view, the invention consists further in variousdetails of construction as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings one suitable embodiment of the invention is shown, but it will be understood that the drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a feeding mechanism embodying the invention, the top cover being omitted to clearly show other parts. In this view the feed slide and associated parts are shown in the positions which they occupy when the gun is idle after firing a series of rounds.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. In this view the top cover is shown.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the feed mechanism and of certain other portions of the gun, the parts being in the same positions as in Fig. 1. In this view the right hand side plate of the gun is omitted in order to show certain parts within the casing and a portion of the right side wall of the feed box is broken away, some of the interior :parts of the feed mechanism being shown in section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the front portion of the feed mechanism, this view being similar to Fig. 1 but showing the stop in its inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the feed slide and associated parts moved in the Jiematically. With the above mentioned gen-' feeding direction so as to bring a cartridge to the central plane of the gun ready to be pushed forward into the chamber of the barrel.

Fig. 6 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3, but

. showing the parts in the same relative positions as in Fig. 5. In this view the barrel and barrel extension are shown in vertical central section.

The drawings fully show the feed mechanism to which the invention particularly relates and they also show certain other portions of the gun with which the feed mechanism directly cooperates. For details of the gun which are not herein fully shown or described, reference may be had to the beforementioned Browning patents.

The gun, as shown, comprises a frame or breech casing which is rectangular in form and adapted to contain the breech and firing mechanism. The casing comprises two vertical side plates l and 2, provided respectively at their tops with inturned flanges land 2 Projecting forward from the casing is a barrel 3 of which only the breech end is shown, this end being chambered at 3*. Connected with the barrel 3 is a barrel extension 4 which is bifurcated,

25 having two separated arms 4 and 4 which extend rearward within the casing. The barrel and barrel extension are movable longitudinally rearward upon recoil and are suitably guided, such guiding being effected in part by the top flanges l and 2 of the side plates I and 2.

Also longitudinally movable within the casing is a lock frame 5 carrying a charger 6. In the normal functioning of the gun, as fully described in the aforesaid patents, the barrel, barrel extension and lockframe initially move rearward in unison upon recoil. The barrel and barrel extension immediately return forward to the position shown in Fig. 3 but the lock frame and charger are heldin the rear position as shown by means of a dog I engaging a notch 6 in the charger. By means of suitable reaction springs, not shown, the lock frame and charger are biased for forward movement when released by the dog.

Carried by the casing at the top thereof is a feed box 8 which ispreferably rectangular in form, having side walls 9 and I0 and front and rear walls II and I2. The side walls 9 and 10 have depending portions which fit against and are secured to the'corresponding side plates I iand 2 of the main casing. The feed box preferably has a hinged cover l3 which is shown in Fig.

2 but omitted from the'other'figures.

Openings 9 and l0 are provided respectively in the side walls 9 and [0 of the feed box and a guide member. I 4 extends transversely between the said side walls adjacent the said openings and near the top of the box. The said openings in association with the said guid member I4 and in association with other guide members to be described, provide a transversefeed channel for receivinga cartridgezfeeider withccartri'd'gesrtherein. A cartridge feeder containin one or more cartridges may be referred to as a feeder assembly. The opening 9 at the left side is of such size as to receive the cartridges whilesthevopening l at the right side need only be large enough to permit the exit ofithe-feedr:

The cartridge feeder is shownat 155; thermain' body portion thereof being formed; offsheet'. meta-1 and bent to the shape of an -inverted. LL. as shown;-

at"! 5 1 5 for engagement" with-the feed pawl when-the feederusin-reversed-position. Theb'ody of thefeeder i's also providedat the sides with notches 1 5; I'5-' which serve a purpose to be-pres-- ently 'describedi These notches-have the same spacing as the cartridges. 7

For supporting and guiding thefeeder and the;

cartridges therein; there are provided: two: can:

3l. This lever 3! is movable about a vertical axis at 32, being carried by a rearward extension of the transverse guide member l4. At the forward end of the lever 3| is a depending stud 33 which enters a transverse slot I8 in the feed slide: 18.. "When the feedlever is moved forward from the position shown in Fig; 3 to the-position shown in Fig. 5, the bell crank 26 is moved in the counter-clockwise direction and the connecting lever 3 h ismovedin'the clockwise direction, thus moving the feed slide toward the right. If a feedersuch as t5 is-inplace, the pawl l9 on the slide engages: one of the notches l5 of the feeder,

plates H, 1-1" which areseoured to the flange. 2

These cam-plates'are so positioned that the L-J shaped body of the feeder' fits over them with' th'e dependingsid'e flanges at the sides of the pie tes and with the horizontal top portion. of the feedcr engaged with and guided by thehorizontal-top; faces of the= pIates;- "-The 'cam'pla-tes I1; l l have the cartridges to' force them downward out of' engagement with the clips 1 6 when the feeder is moved to carry each successive cartridge to-the"- central plane of the" gun? The cams move the cartridge: downward from the position shown at A. in-Fig; 2 to the position; shown at C.

Transversely movableinsuitabie grooves 'in the slide carries apivoted' feed" pawl PS -which i's biased in the downward direction so: as toengage the feeder at" one or another of the-notches f5,

T5: The pavi' l I 9 carries a stud 1-0 which proje'cts upward-"-through a holed-8 in' t-he slide." Thisstud serves to enable thecperator' to Iift the pa-w1= if it-shou1'd be desired to d'isengage' it' fromthe-feeder for any'purp'ose.

For" operating the feed slide there is provided a feed fever" 2! which 'is -liorizontally pivoted at 22* in a; bracket Z3 securedto-the right side- Wall of the feed Box-z" The bracket--23- provided with spring pressedpIimgers"- zland 25 -whic'h serve to cushionthe-movement df the. lever near the ends of itspathi ofo'soill'atiom A bell 'orank lever ZE is pivoted at- 21 fonmovement about a vertical axis; the: said -lever being carried by a bracket ziicsecured to the walls of; the feed box.

'l he arm of the lever 26 which: extends towards the ri'ght is provided with a notch which re ceives: a. vertical cylindrical head on: a stu-d"2-9 pivoted in the-feedzlleven 2:l ---(See*2-1*ig.;1 The of the beilicranls lever-whichextendsforward' isaprovided withadepending studiffll' which entersaaslbt:at' theareanend 'of a connecting lever thus/advancing the feeder through a distance .equaltto that between two cartridges.

For operating the feed lever 2| a stud 34 is provided at the right side of the right arm of the barrel extension;

When the barrel extension: moves to its rearmost position as shown by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3, the stud 34 reachesratposition behind the feed; lever; the'z-feed lever: having: been momentarilyzpushed upward inz opposition. to the spring pressed; plunger 25.- As the: barrel and barrels extension movefor ward toithe position shown by full': lines in 1 i'g-. 3 which is the same position shown in Fig. 6; the feedi-lever i's :mcved forward: :thusi moving. the parts 26; S-Ibandz 1:8? tor-the. positions shown: in mg. :in: the manner already described. soon:

as: the: stud; 3'4: moves forwardatar: enoughtosdis engage the feed: leLver: 2| the. feed slide: and its. associated mintsrare;innar-iediately returned t'ct.;i;he-; positionszslxowrr in Fig. '1;thisbeing effectedlby" a;

biasing-means which. Willi bepresently 'desoribed.

I Whileothe teed slide:- and associated.:- parts are ordinarily"returned- 'byithe biasing means; it

should: he: observed: thatth'ei feedileverr z iz'would in: any event? be :moved rearward-1 by. the: stud.

34Lupon. the next recoil. movement of the barrel extensixmi. Q

' Accidental: or unintendedretrogradezxmove ment: of the feeder is-prevented by; acspring'epressedv pawl 35 on the guide- 'membenyl k. this pawl-engaging one orb-the notches ti -in thesfeeder: "Ilheipawkhas auflnger' 3.5 which can be manually engaged to? release: the. pawlr when-desired;

carrier 36 is connected with: the .bracketsifl" for: pivotal movemenrtabout' a horizontal axis at- The main body of the" carrier 36 isilocated 31. centrally between the side walls: of thelfeed" .box and itv is normally above the foremost cartridge being fed into the gun.. The: carrier is": normallyheld-- in its -upp'er positionva si shown in; Figs; 1-

and 3 by m'ea'ns ore/carrier catch 38 carried byair-bracket 39- and connected for pivotal: move ment about a verticalaxis -at-M... A spring pressed plunger 4! tends-to-hold the c'arriencatch imits operative 'position as shoWn in Fig.1.

The before mentioned dogil is'c'onnectediwith" the rear portion of the carrier. 36 for" relative movement about ahorizontalaxis at 42..- A e-raring pressed plunger fl ser-ves to bias-the carrier and the dog for: movement in opposite directions; the

carrier being biased: in. the clockwise direction and -the. dog being: biased in: the; countereclocke wise direction;

tension is anejector. 43 controlled. by a earn 44 secured" to. the flange 'lg-iof.=.the:sidecplaize l as shown in. Fig; 6.: Aspiring;45.:seated;in-.a1recess in-thesaidilarm. depressesoagainstza: lateral-s ex tension on the ejector and tends to move-'itf-up'-- ward; ejector has a-portion' &3 whichpmject's ri'nward; vsoias: to bein'a positiorr to engage a cartridge, when in the position shown at D in Figs. 2 and 6.

Two lugs 46, 46project forward from the lower portion of the carrier 36, these lugs being positioned at opposite sides of the central vertical plane of the gun and being positioned immediately beneath the rear portion of the foremost cartridge when it first reaches central position.

In the normal functioning of the gun, the barrel extension in moving from the dotted line position in Fig. 3 to the full line position in Fig. 3, moves the feed lever 2| in thecounter-clockwise direction and moves the feed slide to the position shown in Fig. 5, this being effected in the manner already described. The feed slide carries the foremost cartridge to the center of the gun, the cartridge in so moving being forced downward by the cam plates IT, IT at least to the position shown at C in Figs. 2 and 3. As the cartridge reaches the central position, it engages the carrier catch 38 and moves it in the clockwise direcnecting portion 4 of the barrel extension. The

clockwise movement of the carrier almost immediately withdraws the lugs 46, 46 toward the rear and. the cartridge is then caught and momentarily held by the projection l? of the ejector 43. It is then approximately in the position D shown in Fig. 6. The cartridge retarding lugs 46, 46 do not constitute any part of the present invention. These lugs in association with other parts are disclosed and claimed in the copending application of William L. Swartz, for Feed mechanism for machine guns, Serial No. 313,408, filed January 11, 1940, now Patent No. 2,338,270.

The clockwise movement of the carrier 36 about its axis at 31 moves the axis at 42 upward. The dog I is provided with a rearward projecting tail 1 which rests upon the charger 6. The upward movement of the forward end of the dog causes the'tooth 1 to be withdrawn from the notch 6 as shown in Fig. 6, thus releasing the lock frame and the charger and permitting them to move forward under the influence of the reaction springs. The charger 6 thereupon engages the rear end of the cartridge and pushes the cartridge forward into the chamber 3 of the barrel.

As soon as the cartridge is fully entered in the chamber 3*, the breech block 41 (shown in Fig. 6 is moved upward behind the cartridge to close the breech. If the trigger is being held, firing occurs automatically and the barrel, barrel extension and lock frame move to the rearward positions shown in Fig. 3. During rearward movement, the empty shell is extracted by an extractor (not shown) and ejecteddownward by the ejector 43. Unless the feed lever 2| ha already been moved rearward by the biasing means, it is so moved by the stud 34 on the barrel extension. During rearward movement of the barrel extension,'a.cam 48 on the right hand arm thereof engages a lug 49 on the carrier to move the carrier upward into the position shown in Fig. 3 where it is automatically engaged by the carrier catch 38. The charger and lock frame are momentarily held in rearward position by thedog 1 but the barrel and barrel extension immediately move forward, the feeding of another cartridge being effected in the manner already fully described. If the trigger is being held, the described movements continue in rapid succession until all of the cartridges in the feeder have been fired. After the firing of the last cartridge, the parts are retained in the positions shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

The feeder l5 may carry five or more cartridges and this feeder with its cartridges is inserted manually prior to firing. In order to assist the operator in quickly putting the feeder in place, a supporting shelf 50 may be provided at the left or entrance side of the gun.

Prior to the present invention, difficulties were frequently encountered as the result of inadvertent manual movement of the feeder and the cartridges to an extent greater than intended. The pawls l9 and 35 served to prevent any unintentiona1 retrograde movement of the feeder but there was nothing to limit forward movement of the feeder. The result was that an operator could push the feeder into the gun farther than intended. If the feeder were pushed far enough to bring the foremost cartridge to the central position, the said cartridge would be stripped from the feeder and, if the trigger were being held, the gun would be fired, perhaps without intending to do. so. A very vigorous movement of the feeder might even strip two cartridges from th feeder in too rapid succession thus causing a serious jam. Furthermore, there was danger of overfeeding during the normal-automatic action of the gun due to the momentum of the feeder and of the relatively heavy cartridges.

In accordance with the present invention, a stop is provided which normally prevents feeding of the feeder and of the cartridges beyond a predetermined position. This predetermined position may be varied, but in the construction as shown, the stop is so located that the foremost cartridge is stopped just before it reaches the stripping cams l1, l1. This prevents any accidental premature firing of the gun and enables the operator by a subsequent movement to carefully move the cartridge into firing position.

As shown, there is provided a stop 5| which is pivoted for movement about a vertical axis, being mounted upon a pin 52 which is carried in part by the guide member l4 and in part by a special.

bracket 53 below the guide member. The stop 5| carries a downward projecting pin 54 which is engaged by a spring pressed plunger 55 mounted in a bracket 55 at the front end of the feed box.

'A means is provided for conveniently moving the stop 5| out of its normal position so as to permit further movement of the feeder and cartridges in the feeding direction. This means may be manual or automatic or both. As shown, a hand lever 5i is provided which is mounted on the bracket 55 for movement about a vertical axis at 58. This lever carries a spring pressed plunger 59 which normally engages a forward proientinggfinger; 60: :ca-rriedi by the :stopzfi I12. spring-pressed plunger; liltcarried' by':the:bracket- 56. serves toxbias the: lever 515- for movement: in the clockwise direction; uManual movement of the lever 5.11 in theicounter olockwise direction:

servesrby reasorr of. the engagement; of the plunger 59 with: the finger 6D,. to: move the stop in the forward: clockwise direction. Anabutment 62 extending forward from the=-'f-eed box mediate position shown at B; The stop 5l-*ha s been moved far enough-to permit continued movement ofthe cartridge; even though the lever 51 is released and pennitted to-return to normal position.'- It will be understood that'when the cartridge moves beyond the-position= 3- shownin Fig. 4 and reaches a'cent-ralposition c, it is moved downward by the cams IT, l1 and by thecarrier 36. As soon-as the'cartridge has moved below'the" level of the stop- 5|; the said step immediately ref/urns toits original position as shown in Fig; 1.

In order that the stop 5| maynot interfere with subsequent automatic" feeding movement of the; feeder and cartridge; means is provided for moving the stop to inoperative position at each feeding movement of the-feed slide l8; The; lever 57 has a rearward extensionb'l' which'c'arriesa depending pin 6-3. This pin 63 enters. a notch in the feed slide and the-result is that. the feed slide. upon eachfeeding'movement' thereof moves the" lever 57 in the counter-clockwise direction thus moving "the stop 51l in the forward clockwise direction-out of its operative position. ,J'ust before the feed slide reaches the end of'it's feeding movement, the plunger 59' disengages itself from the ringer 60 thusallowing the stop 5| to snap back to'its' normal position without Waiting for the return. movement" of the fe'edslide'. Thus .the stop' is quickly restored toits operative position so as to be ready to engagecthe next. cartridge and prevent. any possible overfeeding, thereof. as theresult of momentum. v

The spring, pressed plunger 6|v serves tov return the lever 51- in the clockwise directioncarrying the feed slideand associated partswith it. This springpressed' plunger 6| thusv constitutes. the,

biasing meanswhich hasv been referred-.t'o as serving to automatically return the. feedslide and associated parts f'romthe positions asv shown. in

Fig, 5' to the positions. shown in Fig. 1.-. -Whenthe feed slide [8. andlever. 5'I.;return, the plunger fi-ijsnaps over the finger. 60 so astoreeengage it. Under. some circumstances, it. may: be found preferable to move .thestop- 5] to-acompletely inoperative position and. tohold it there. In order thatthismay be-:done,. the stop 5| is provided with a forward projecting pin G4-,-and= the pivot pin 58 for the lever 57 is-providedwith a rearward projecting-1 blade 65. When the: stop- 5! is being moved by the cartridge as shown. in Fig. 4, the pin 64; engages'theblade; Gite-move I the lever. By. manually pressing upontthe stop 5!. it maybe moved. beyond-.its-normalpa-th of movement to the positionshown by-"dot-andi-dash lines. inFig. 1 wherein.thepinll-i l islengaged: with issuance:

the :end; orthe blade. ".This:locks the; stop im its inoperative position illustrated .by said't-idbtfand-dash lines sincevithe contacting point' between :the outer Grid. offblad'e. 65: and pin. 64" is past the line of centers: of. axes 5 2 and 58 about whichsaid blade and"pin'- pivotally move. The: spring=pressed plunger: 6?! will. urge the blade 65 into firm: engagement: withv pin 64- to prevenh return of the:blade65'and'p'inlid to the full line p sition: of: the. same on the other side of said line of cent'ersi With the stop" 5| locked in the dot and-dash-line positionshown in Fig; 1 by the (Io-engagement of blade '65 and pin 64; thegun then functions in'th'e'same manner that it would have functioned if the stop 51 and associated parts were entirely omitted; The stop may be released by manually separating the parts" 64- and 651 What is claimed is:

of a casing and feed box provided with a feed chan'nel extending therethrough transverselyto the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adaptedto re'oei ve a feeder assembly comprising a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting for-- ward from" said casing, feeding mechanism 'in-, cluding a feed slide reciprocable in said feed channeI for movement in feeding and retrograde directions intimed relationship with' thefuncti-oning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried'by's'aid' slideand adapteduponmovement" of the slide to engage a feeder assembly andmove it intermittently through said feed channel,

means'mounted in the feed boxin the path or" movement ofthe cartridges in the feeder assem b'ly and adapted to automatically disengage from the feeder the foremost cartridge therein near the end o'f'each movement of the feeder assembly in feeding direction, a stop*movably{m'ounted in the f'eed box adjacent the feed slide andhaving a; portion=positionedin the path of movement of the feeder assembly through the channel at the commencement of each feeding mo'vementthereof and adapted to engage a portion of said -as sembly and stopmoveme'nt' ofsaid assembly in feeding direction through the feed 'channel'j prior toengagement of'the" foremost cartridge in the feeder with said disengaging means, 'and' additional meansmovably mounted in' the feed box and interconnected with and operable by "sa'id feeding mechanism atthe commencement of "each feeding movement of said feed slide to move the" stop from its assembly engaging'position to per-- mit further movement of said feeder'assem'bly in feeding direction: and effect disengagement of the foremost cartridge therein from thefeeder by said disengaging means;

2. In an automatic firearm, the combination'of a casing and feed-box provided with a feed'chan nel extending th'erethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis'of" the firearm and adaptedto receive a feeder assembly comprising a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projectingforward from: said casing; feeding mechanismincluding a' feed slide :reciproc'able in said feed channel for movement insfeeding and retrograde directions in. timed relationship with the functioningv of the firearm, a; spring pres'sedpa'wl'car-- ried by said slide and adapted upon movement'of the: slider to engage a feeder assembly and move it. intermittently" through said feed: channel, means" mounted in the feed. box' in the path of movementrof the cartridges in thefeederessemblyand: adaptedto automatically disengage. from the feeder the: foremost; cartridge .thereimnearrithey 1 In an automatic firearm, the combinationend of each movement of the feeder assembly in feeding direction, a stop movably mounted in the feed box adjacent the feed slide and having a portion positioned in th path of movement of the feeder assembly through the feed channel at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof and adapted to engage a portion of said assembly and stop movement of said assembly in feeding direction through th feed channel prior to engagement of the foremost cartridge in the feeder with said disengaging means, and additional means movably mounted in the feed box and interconnected with and operable by said feeding mechanism at the commencement of each feeding movement of said feed slide to move the stop from its assembly engaging position to permit further movement of said feeder assembly in feeding direction and effect disengagement of the foremost cartridge therein from the feeder by said disengaging means, said additional means also including a portion accessible on the exterior of the feed box and adapted to be manually actuated to effect movement of said stop from its assembly engaging position.

3. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing and feed box provided with a feed channel extending therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adapted to receive a feeder assembly comprising a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting forward from said casing, a feed slide reciprocable in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions in timed relationship with the functioning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said slide and adapted upon movement of the slide to engage a feeder assembly and move it intermittently through said feed channel, means mounted in the feed box in the path of movement of the cartridges in the feeder assembly and adapted to automatically disengage from the feeder the foremost cartridge therein near the end of each movement of the feeder assembly in feeding direction, a stop movably mounted in the feed box adjacent the feed slide and having a portion positioned in th path of movement of the feeder assembly through the feed channel at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof and adapted to engage a portion of said assembly and stop movement of said assembly in feeding direction through the feed channel prior to engagement of the foremost cartridge in the feeder with said disengaging means, and additional means mounted for movement in the feed box and interconnected with said feed slide for automatically moving the stop from its assembly engaging position at the commencement of each feeding movement of said feed slide to permit further movement of said feeder assembly in feeding direction and effect disengagement of the foremost cartridge therein from the feeder by said disengaging means.

4. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing and feed box provided with a feed channel extending therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adapted to receive a feeder assembly comprisin a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting forward from said casing, a feed slide reciprocable in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions in timed relationship with the functioning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said slid and adapted upon movement of the slide to engage a feeder assembly and move it intermittently through said feed channel, means mounted in the feed box in the path of movement of the cartridges in the feeder assembly and adapted to automatically disengage from the feeder the foremost cartridge therein near the end of each movement of the feeder assembly in feeding direction, a stop movably mounted in the feed box adjacent the feed slide and having a portion positioned in the path of movement of the feeder assembly through the feed channel at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof and adapted to engage a portion of said assembly and stop movement of said assembly in feeding direction through the feed channel prior to engagement of the foremost cartridge in the feeder with said disengaging means, additional means mounted for movement in the feed box and interconnected with said feed slide for automatically moving the stop from its assembly engaging position at the commencement of each feeding movement of said feed slide to permit further movement of said feeder assembly in feeding direction and efiect disengagement of the foremost cartridge therein from the feeder by said disengaging mearfi, and a member carried by said additional means and accessible on the exterior of the feed box and adapted to be manually actuated to move said. additional means and effect movement of said stop from its assembly engaging position.

5. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing and feed box provided with a feed channel extending therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adapted to receive a feeder assembly comprising a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting forward from said casing, a feed slide reciprocable in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions in tim'ed relationship with the functioning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said slide and adapted upon movement of the slide to engage a feeder assembly and move it intermittently through said feed channel, means mounted in the feed box in the path of movement of the cartridges in the feeder assembly and adapted to automatically disengage from the feeder the foremost cartridge therein near the end of each movement of the feeder assembly in feeding direction, a stop movably mounted in the feed box adjacent the feed slide and having a portion positioned in the path of movement of the feeder assembly through the feed channel at the commencement of each movement of the feed slide in feeding direction and adapted to engage a portion of said assembly and stop movement of said assembly in feeding direction through the feed channel prior to engagement of the foremost cartridge in the feeder with said disengaging means, additional means mounted for movement in the feed box and interconnected with said feed slide for automatically moving the stop from its assembly engaging position at the commencement of each feeding movement of said feed slide to permit further movement of said feeder assembly in feeding direction and effect disengagement of the foremost cartridge therein from thefeeder by said disengaging means, and further means interconnected to said stop and adapted to coact there with to return it to its assembly engagin position prior to th completion of the movement of the feed slide in retrograde direction.

6. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing and feed box provided with a feed channel extending therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adapted to receive a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting forward from said-leasing, feeding a stop movably mounted in the feed box adjacent the feed slide and having a portion positioned in the pathof movement of thecartridges through the feed channel at the initial insertion ofoa feeder andcartridges into the feed chan'nel and alsoat the commencement-of each feeding'mov-ement of the feed slide so as todirectly successively engage each foremost cartridge in the feeder and stop movement 6f :the feeder and cartridges carriedthereby in feeding-directionthroughtheieed channel prior to engagement ofsaid foremost cartridge in the feeder with said idisengaging means, and-additional mean-smovabl-y mounted in the feed box and interconnected--Withandoperable by said feeding-mechanism to move the stop from .its cartridge engaging- =p-osition at the come mencement ofeach feedin movement of said feed slide to permit further :movement of said-feeder rasca 484 rtridges sfrom'. .said: :feeder. :said :sdisengagin'g :means, said addition-a1 meanszincludingla @portion :accessibleson the exterior .of "said feed. .box and :adaptedto be manually actuated to lelfectzmovei- :men'tlof saidlstopfrom its-partridgeengagingzpositionr: i v t o :8. 'lnranautomatic firearm; ithe nombinatiomof a icasi'ngiand feed 1 box 'providediwith a feed channel extending :therethrough ;transversely.:.to the longitudinal axis: .of the rfirearmsandradapted :to receiveaa :feeder loaded with cartridges, .a. barrel projecting forward. from said casing, a .feed sslide reciprocahle in said-feed channel forlmovement in :feeding. and retrograde directions intimed relationship with the :functioning of the firearm, ..a spring-pressedpawlcarried by :said slide and adapted r upon movement of the :slide tozengage a \feedenandm'ove :it and :the :cartridge :carried I thereby intermittently v through said .feed chanand cartridges c.arried.thereby in feeding direction and effect disengagement -of said-foremost of said cartridges :fromsaid-feeder by said=-disengaging means.

7. In an automatic firearm, the combination-of a casing and feed box provided withafeed'channel extending therethroughtransversely to the longitudinal axisiof .the firearm andadapted to receive a feeder loaded-with cartridges-ya barrel projecting forward from said casing, feeding mechanism including -afeed slide reciprocable in said feed channel for automatic movement :in

feeding and retrograde directionsdn timed rela tionship with the functioning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said slide and adapted upon movement ofthe-slide to-engage a feeder and :move it and :the cartridges carried thereby intermittently through :said feedchannel, means .mounted-inthe feed box in the path of movement of :the cartridges-and adapted-to automatically disengagefrom the feeder-the forefeed channel at the initial insertion :of a feederand cartridges into the feed channeland also at the commencement of each feeding movement of the feed slide so as ,to directly. successivelyiengage each foremost cartridge in the feeder and stop movementof the feeder and cartridges carried thereby in feeding, direction through the feed channel prior to engagementof saidiforemost-tcartrid'ge in the feeder withsaidzdisengaging means,.

and additional means movably mounted in the feed box and interconnected .withand operable by said feeding mechanism .110 move the stop-fromits cartridge engaging position at the commencement of .each feeding movement of said feed slide to permit further movement of said feeder and cartridges carried thereby in feeding direction to eifect disengagement oi said foremostof said carmovement-of the. cartridgeszandiadapted to auto-:

nel, means mounted .in the .feed in the ;path of movement of .thezcartridgesoand .adaptedto automaticallydisengage fromthe feeder theioree mostcartridge thereinnear the endoteach-movement of the feeder in feeding:directionoa:stop movably. mounted in .theefeed obox adjacent .the feedslide and .having a portion ipositioned in the path-c of imovementtof the cartridges through the feed ohannel .at the. initial insertion \of .an'feeder and. cartridges into the 7 feed channel v and alsoiat theicommencementiof each =feeding ;movement 'of the feedlslide. so; as to directly.- successively engage each iiioremostcartridgeiin the ifeecler. and stop, movement .of the feeder and cartridges Icarried thereby :in. feeding direction through .thedeed channel.prioritoengagenientnflsaid foremost .car tridgeiin the .feederlwithsaid discharging means, and. additional .meansa:mounted in the feed ;box and dnterconnected Withpand operable by. :said- Vfeed slide to automatically move the stop-from its ioartridge engaging position .topermit further movement of said feeder and cartridges (carried therebyein feeding .directionland elfect diseneasement @of sthe foremost-cartridge from said feederzbyisaid disengaging means. r I

t ;9. :In an automaticfirearm, the combinationof a .casingand feed box provided with-a feedchanel-extending z-therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis 1 of the v firearm and adapted to receivea feeder loaded .with cartridg.es,-v avi'barrel projecting forward from saidcasingi a .f eed--,-slide reciprocable {in said .feed' channel ,for 1 movement. in feeding and retrograde directions in timed-relationship with the functioning .of theffirearmfia spring-pressed- ;pawl; carried :by ,said slide rand adapted uponmovementof the slide to engageg a vfeeder and move it :and the cartridges tcar-ried therebyintermittentlythroughsaidieedchannel, means mounted in the feed tbox'in the pathgof matically, disengage -,from the feeder: {the tore:- most cartridge therein-near the-end oft-each move ment of 'theigfeeder in feedings-direction, a-stop movably -.mounted in the .feed box adjacent the feed slide .and vhaving a portion positioned in the path of movement of the =cartridgesthrough the Y feedichannelat the initial insertion'of a feeder and -cartridges into the feed channel and also at the commencement :of each movement -;of the feed slideiin feeding direction-so as to directly successively-engage each 1f oremostcartridge inthe feeder rand stop movement ofi'the feeder and cartridges carried wthereby in feeding direction through the feed -.channel prior to engagement of said foremost cartridge ain the feeder with sai d disengaging means, additional (means-(mounted in the feed box and interconnected with and operable by said feed slide to automatically move the stop from its cartridge engaging position to permit further movement of said feeder and cartridges carried thereby in feeding direction and effect disengagement of the foremost cartridge from said feeder by said disengaging means, and further means interconnected with said stop and adapted to coact therewith to return it to its cartridge engaging position prior to the completion of the movement of the feed slide in retrograde direction.

In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing and feed box provided with a feed channel extending therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adapted to receive a feeder assembly comprising a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting forward from said casing, feeding mechanism including a feed slide reciprocable in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions in timed relationship with the functioning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said slide and adapted upon movement of the slide to engage a feeder assembly and move it intermittently through said feed channel. means mounted in the feed box in the path of movement of the cartridges in the feeder assembly and adapted to automatically disengage from the feeder the foremost cartridge therein near the end of each movement of the feeder in feedin direction, a stop movably mounted in the feed portion positioned in the path of movement of the feeder assembly through the feed channel at the initial insertion of a feeder assembly into the feed channel and also at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof and adapted to engage a portion of said assembly and stop movement of the feeder assembly in feeding direction through the feed channel prior to engagement of the foremost cartridge in the feeder assembly with said disengaging means, a lever pivotally mounted in the feed box and engageable with said stop, said lever also being interconnected with said feed slide and adapted to be actuated thereby at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof to move the stop from its feeder assembly engaging position and permit further movement of said feeder assembly in feeding direction and effect disengagement of the forebox adjacent the feed slide and having a portion positioned in the path of movement of the feeder assembly through the feed channel at the initial insertion of a feeder assembly into the feed channel and also at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof and adapted to engage a portion of said assembly and stop movement of the feeder assembly-in feeding direction through the feed channel prior to engagement of the foremost cartridge in the feeder assembly with said disengaging means, and a lever pivotally mounted in the feed box and engageable with said stop and interconnected with and adapted to be actuated by said feed slide at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof to move the stop from its feeder assembly engag ng position and permit further movement of said feeder assembly in feeding direction and effect disengagement of the foremost cartridge therein from the feeder by said disengaging means. i

11. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing and feed box provided with a feed channel extending therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adapted to receive a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting forward from said casing, feeding mechanism including a feed slide reciprocable in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions in timed relationship with the functioning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said slide and adapted upon movement of the slide to engage a feeder assembly and move it intermittently through said feed channel. means mounted in the feed boxin the path of movement of the cartridges in the feeder assembly and adapted to automatically disengage from the feeder the foremost cartridge therein near the end of each movement of the feeder in feeding direction, a stop movably mounted in the feed box adjacent the feed slide and having a most cartridge therein from the feeder by said disengaging means, and biasing means coacting with and normally urging said lever in a direction to move said feed slide in retrograde direction.

12. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a casing and feed box provided with a feed channel extending therethrough transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm and adapted to receive a feeder assembly comprising a feeder loaded with cartridges, a barrel projecting forward from said casing, a feeding mechanism including a feed slide reciprocable in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions in timed relationship with the functioning of the firearm, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said slide and adapted upon movement of the slide to engage a feeder assembly and move it intermittently through said feed channel, means mounted in the feed box in the path of movement of the cartridges and adapted to automatically disengage from the feeder the foremost cartridge therein near the end of each movement of the feeder in feeding direction, a stop movably mounted in the feed box adjacent the feed slide and having a portion positioned in the path of movement of the feeder assembly through the feed channel at the commencement of each feeding movement thereof and adapted to engage a portion of said assembly and stop movement of the feeder assembly in feeding direction through the feed channel prior to engagement of the foremost cartridge in the feeder assembly with said disengaging means, additional means movably mounted in the feed box and interconnected with and operable by said feeding mechanism to move the stop from its assembly engaging position at the commencement of each feeding movement of the feed slide to permit further movement of said feeder assembly in feeding direction and effect disengagement of the foremost cartridge therein from the feeder by said disengaging means, and a device mounted adjacent said stop and adapted after movement of said stop from its assembly engaging position to coact with said stop and maintain it out of engagement with said assembly.

PHOENIX STATE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Administrator of the Estate of Frederick T. Moore, Deceased, p

By L. K. ELMORE,

Assistant Trust Ofiicer.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,565, 4-8L December 19, 19M.

FREDERICK T. MOORE, DECEASED, BY PHOENIX STATE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,

ADMINISTRATOR It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, second column, line 56, claim 8,-for the word "discharging" read disengaging-; page 7, first column, line 26, after "channel" insert a comma; line 51-52, for "feedin" read --feeding-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of March, A. D. 192.5.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

1 Patent No. 2,565,h8h. December 19, 19th.

FREDERICK T. MOORE, DECEASED,

BY PHOENIX STATE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,

ADMINISTRATOR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above number ed patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, sec-- 0nd column, line 56, claim 8, for the word "discharging" read "disengagiing; page 7, first column, line 26, after "channel" insert a comma; line 51-52, for "feedin" read feeding--; and that the said Letters Patent Should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of .the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and Sealed this 27th day of March, A. D. 19L 5.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

